Allegheny Co. Council approves airport drilling deal

Two people wore masks, and one of them was on a leash, to express their anti-drilling views and to mock Consol Energy and the Allegheny County Council.

PITTSBURGH -

A deal that could be worth $500 million for rights to drill for natural gas and oil at Pittsburgh International Airport has gotten the approval of the Allegheny County Council

Last week, the public works committee voted 4-1 with one abstention to approve the deal with Consol Energy Inc.

County Executive Rich Fitzgerald released a statement about the plan saying, "The vote by County Council earlier this evening is exciting news for Allegheny County. It isn’t often that the County is able to announce a billion dollar investment, but that’s exactly what Council’s action allows us to do tonight. While the revenues from this deal will go directly to the airport, Allegheny County taxpayers benefit too – by reducing business costs for airlines and increasing our airport’s competitiveness, creating a new source of revenue for the airport to make capital improvements and, perhaps most importantly, allowing additional investment in the economic development opportunities in the airport corridor. That part of Allegheny County is one of the fastest growing areas today -- current development around the airport already accounts for over 5,000 jobs. With this type of investment, there will be even more growth of good, family-sustaining jobs in our community."

Under the deal, Consol would pay a signing bonus of $50 million, plus 18 percent royalties on future production that's expected to total $450 million over two decades.

The first wells would be drilled in late 2014 or early 2015.

The airport has said it would use the money to lower costs to airlines, in hopes of attracting more flights, and for capital improvements.

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